Home · Loricariidae · Maria's otocinclus
Maria's otocinclus (Otocinclus mariae) — Loricariidae

Maria's otocinclus

Otocinclus mariae
Family: Loricariidae

The Maria's otocinclus (Otocinclus mariae) is a freshwater fish of the family Loricariidae that grows up to 3 cm.

Length
3.3 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Herbivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
South America: Bolivia

Want the complete picture on the Maria's otocinclus?

Get the app

Description

The Maria's otocinclus is a dwarf armoured catfish (Loricariidae) from slow-flowing, planted streams and rivers of the upper Amazon basin in South America. The species grows to only about 4 cm and has a slender, bony-plated, grey-brown body with an inferior sucker mouth. As a social bottom-dweller it clings to plants, wood and stones and rasps algae and biofilm. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Maria's otocinclus?

The Maria's otocinclus has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Maria's otocinclus live?

The Maria's otocinclus lives in fresh water and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. South America: Bolivia

How big does the Maria's otocinclus get?

The Maria's otocinclus grows to a maximum of about 3 cm.

Is the Maria's otocinclus dangerous to humans?

No, the Maria's otocinclus is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Maria's otocinclus?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Maria's otocinclus is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Maria's otocinclus sourced
Scientific name
Otocinclus mariae
Family
Loricariidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
3.3 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Natural range
South America: Bolivia sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Herbivore inferred
Diet (detail)
Algae and plant material inferred
Social behaviour
Small groups sourced
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Nocturnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Small in size and barely an angling target; mostly caught incidentally or as baitfish. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Otocinclus

More from the family Loricariidae

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Maria's otocinclus?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Maria's otocinclus is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →
Is this the Maria's otocinclus? Get the app